I am an Electrical and Mechanical Engineer with wide experience in power generation, power systems and transmission and a recognized expert on all aspects of the design, construction and operation of small hydro schemes combined with wide experience on large schemes. I have reported on generation, transmission and distribution systems in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, PNG, Phillipines, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Zambia, Niger, Iran and Afghanistan.

I am a frequent commentator and well known public speaker on electricity de-regulation and electricity markets who believes that many electricity market models are fundamentally flawed. I have written papers on markets and recent market failures that have been widely debated in New Zealand and overseas. I have a good understanding of nuclear power generation.

I make presentations on "climate change" and why I believe that "the science is NOT settled".

I have acted as an expert witness on litigation associated with hydropower schemes, windfarms, power systems, cogeneration plants and transmission lines.

Experience

Five years training with the Auckland Electric Power Board in NZ followed by nine years overseas experience as Resident Electrical Engineer on diesel, steam, gas turbine and hydro power projects in Mauritius, Cyprus, West Africa and Malaysia.

Returned to New Zealand in 1969 and since then I have been involved with the investigation, design, construction and economic evaluation of power transmission and distribution systems, hydroelectric schemes, thermal power stations and industrial power systems in New Zealand and overseas.

Employed by the Asian Development Bank as a staff consultant for the appraisal of projects in the Philippines, Thailand, Western Samoa and Bangladesh.

Designed or refurbished many small hydro schemes in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. Several of these schemes were awarded prizes as "Outstanding Engineering Projects".

Advised insurers on the catastrophic failure of the 180 MW turbine at Dartmouth power station in Victoria (Australia) and a 1600 kW Pelton turbine in Western Samoa.

Reviewed power generation in Fiji for the Asian Development Bank in 1997. I was a member of a team working for the Asian Development Bank in Bhutan. Bhutan has the potential to export more than 10,000MW of hydropower to India. The team proposed a new and innovative structure for the electricity industry that separates the export business from the distribution business and facilitates the entry of IPP's.

Member of a Panel of Experts engaged to investigate and solve serious surges in the tailrace tunnels of a 1000 MW underground power station in Iran.

Past member of an Expert Advisory Group for the Kalpasar scheme in NW India. The scheme originally included a 5800 MW tidal power scheme but now is for fresh water storage only. The scheme has many serious problems.

Past Member of the Kandadji Dam Safety Panel for the Niger Dams Authority. (Resigned because the President of the panel refused to accept my serious reservations regarding spillway gate safety.) Member of World Bank dam safety panels for a neglected 40 year old dam in Afghanistan and eight seriously neglected irrigation dams in Nigeria.

Past Member of the Common Quality Advisory Group of the Electricity Commission in New Zealand. The group was concerned with all aspects of frequency and voltage management on the New Zealand power system.

Majority owner, designer and operator of a 950 kW small hydro scheme.

Written more than 100 papers on power systems, hydropower development, rural electrification, co-generation, power system protection, and the safety of large dams. Invited speaker and session chairman at many international conferences.

Author of Small Hydroelectric Engineering Practice, a 250 page book with a CD that has drawings, spreadsheets and specifications. The book and CD cover all aspects of investigating, designing, building, commissioning and operating hydro schemes from 500 kW to 5 MW. All the reviews have been positive. It is available from http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781138000988 and from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Small-Hydroelectric-Engineering-Practice-Leyland/dp/1138000981